‘Time Saves Lives’ enters final leg

Hospital still looks to raise $1.1M in support

November 15, 2012

MARTINSBURG - West Virginia University Hospitals-East held a press conference to announce the public launch and last leg of the Time Saves Lives campaign on Wednesday - the eve of National Philanthropy Day.

To complete a $3 million deficit on WVUH-East's $31.5 million expansion and renovation project, the hospital seeks to solicit community support to raise approximately $1.1 million in private gifts fundraising.

Article Photos

WVUH-East announced Wednesday the final phase of the Time Saves Live Campaign. From left: Jules Langlet, donor; Teresa McCabe, vice president of marketing and development, WVUH-East; Susan Snowden, chairman, WVUH-East foundations board of directors; Richard Pill, chairman, WVUH-East board of directors.

According to Teresa McCabe, vice president of marketing and development, WVUH-East was able to secure approximately $28 million in bond funding through West Virginia United Health. To recover the $3 million deficit, the Time Saves Lives campaign - a private gifts fundraising effort - subsequently kicked off in 2010 and has garnered more than $1.93 million to date.

The hospital recognized the campaign's various donors Wednesday. According to Robert Baronner, treasurer, WVUH-East board of directors, board giving totaled $289,000; employee giving totaled $428,000 and physician giving totaled $286,000. Top individual donors included Dr. Jules Langlet, Randy Smith and Liz Oates; top medical staff donors included Salutis Emergency Specialists and Martinsburg Radiology Associates; and top business donors included the Bank of Charles Town and BB&T.

The last third of the campaign's funds will be put toward the WVUH-East's two priority projects requiring funding: the implementation of a second cath lab and making up the deficit for the outpatient cancer center, set to open next month.

According to Richard Pill, chairman, WVUH-East board of directors, the cardiac catheterization center is currently situated with one cardiac cath lab. The benefit of outfitting a second fully equipped cardiac cath lab will include making cardiac catheterization services and other cardiac procedures available to patients not experiencing life-threatening emergencies.

Pill said the community's growth in recent years had made the hospital's expansion necessary.

"While your community grows, the needs for that community grow," Pill said. "We're no longer a location that can accommodate the medical health needs of the public without taking major strides with out hospitals."

Baronner said within the next few months WVUH-East will be reaching out to community members who share the commitment for quality healthcare seeking support. Donor naming opportunities of differing levels will be available.

"When people do hear from us, I hope they will think about the value of these two hospitals in our community," Baronner said. "This is the way that we attract new companies to the area, this is the way our economy grows and it's just good for the community."